Abstract
Aqueous and solvent extracts of Decalepis hamiltonii were selected among the sixteen plants based on their antagonistic activity against Aspergillus flavus. Among seven extracts of D. hamiltonii studied, butanol extract offered maximum percent of growth inhibition against A. flavus. Crude butanolic extract of D. hamiltonii recorded a minimum inhibitory concentration of 14 mg/ml. Similarly, seeds primed with different concentrations of butanol extract revealed that beyond 6 mg/ml the extracts were inhibitory to seed germination and seedling growth. But the concentration of 6 mg/ml also significantly suppressed the seed-borne incidence of A. flavus and improved seed quality variables in different cultivars of Groundnut. Phytochemical analysis of crude extract showed the presence of saponins and phenolics. The antifungal compound present in crude butanol extract was identified and characterized. The purified antifungal compound showed Rf value of 0.36 on TLC when acetate:toluene:chloroform:acetic acid (2:6:5:2 v/v) was as mobile phase. Further, characterization of pure compound following UV-visible spectra, IR-spectra, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LC-MS analysis revealed the compound as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, which is a phenolic aldehyde.